Twin Cities Cinema's future in question

Published: Thursday, September 13, 2012 at 01:33 PM.

NICEVILLE — Residents were surprised Friday morning to see a sign on the door of Twin Cities Cinema saying the theater was temporarily closed.

Norman King, a manager with the theater in Palm Plaza for 15 years, said owner James Norton is in litigation with Ruckel Properties, the shopping center’s owner.

“They won’t tell me anything,” King said Friday afternoon. “I’ve been told by Ruckel Properties that they cannot talk about it. The theater’s currently closed and the owner’s working to renegotiate the contract.”

Dora Caywood with Ruckel Properties said Friday that employees have been told by their attorney not to comment.

“I cannot even comment by saying no comment,” Caywood said.

King said he set up a message on Twin Cities Cinema’s phone announcing the closure. A message also appears on the theater’s website.

“If the owner and Ruckel Properties could work up some deal, then the theater will reopen,” King said. “I know this theater means a lot to people around here. Without it, people would have to pay $6 to cross the (Mid-Bay) Bridge and pay higher rates at the other theaters.”

King said one of the struggles Twin Cities Cinema faces is change in the film industry. While most theaters are updating and going digital, Niceville’s theater continues to use 35 mm film, which is fading away.

“It would cost quite a bit of money for it to change over,” King said. “This theater’s been falling over for a while. It needs to be completely renovated and they can make some money.”

King said he likely will know the theater’s future sometime next week after Norton and representatives of Ruckel Properties meet.

“People here don’t want it to close and I would hate to see it close,” he added. “It’s my second home, more or less.”

NICEVILLE — Residents were surprised Friday morning to see a sign on the door of Twin Cities Cinema saying the theater was temporarily closed.

Norman King, a manager with the theater in Palm Plaza for 15 years, said owner James Norton is in litigation with Ruckel Properties, the shopping center’s owner.

“They won’t tell me anything,” King said Friday afternoon. “I’ve been told by Ruckel Properties that they cannot talk about it. The theater’s currently closed and the owner’s working to renegotiate the contract.”

Dora Caywood with Ruckel Properties said Friday that employees have been told by their attorney not to comment.

“I cannot even comment by saying no comment,” Caywood said.

King said he set up a message on Twin Cities Cinema’s phone announcing the closure. A message also appears on the theater’s website.

“If the owner and Ruckel Properties could work up some deal, then the theater will reopen,” King said. “I know this theater means a lot to people around here. Without it, people would have to pay $6 to cross the (Mid-Bay) Bridge and pay higher rates at the other theaters.”

King said one of the struggles Twin Cities Cinema faces is change in the film industry. While most theaters are updating and going digital, Niceville’s theater continues to use 35 mm film, which is fading away.

“It would cost quite a bit of money for it to change over,” King said. “This theater’s been falling over for a while. It needs to be completely renovated and they can make some money.”

King said he likely will know the theater’s future sometime next week after Norton and representatives of Ruckel Properties meet.

“People here don’t want it to close and I would hate to see it close,” he added. “It’s my second home, more or less.”